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Foreign News
January 2, 1787
The New York Packet
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
American ship captains in Point-a-Petre, Guadaloupe, petition French commander Monsieur de St. Jean after armed men assaulted their vessels on September 16, 1786, dragging captains aboard the frigate Du Roy la Tourtereau without cause or redress, highlighting tensions in US-French relations.
Merged-components note: Image overlaps spatially with the foreign news article from the Providence Gazette.
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Full Text
From the PROVIDENCE GAZETTE, of Dec. 2.
MR. CARTER,
The little respect that is paid to the American flag, and the repeated insults which subjects of the United States meet with in foreign ports, must convince the good people of this continent, that it is absolutely necessary we should invest Congress with a power to regulate our commerce, and to support our dignity, as free and independent States—without which, we must very soon become a reproach and by-word among the nations.
The following petition, which was drawn up and signed by eighteen of the most respectable captains from this and the neighbouring States, must in some degree convince the public of the truth of the above observation. As the strictest justice is intended to our allies, should an answer be given to the petition, a copy will be forwarded to the writer of this, by the first vessel from Guadaloupe, and shall be communicated to the public through the channel of your useful Gazette, by your constant reader,
A. Z.
The humble petition of all the American Commanders in the harbour of Point-a-Petre, Guadaloupe, to Monsieur DE ST. JEAN, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Major of the Marine, and Commander of his most Christian Majesty's frigate Du Roy la Tourtereau, now on the above station;
Sheweth,
THAT your petitioners, relying on the faith of treaties subsisting between his most Christian Majesty and the United States of North America, have entrusted their persons and properties in the dominions of "the Protector of the Rights of Mankind," and have in every respect submitted in the most implicit manner to all laws and ordinances made known to us, demeaning ourselves in a quiet and peaceable manner, giving no offence to any person or persons whatever.
With infinite distress we therefore are under the disagreeable necessity of making known to you, that on Saturday evening, the sixteenth of September last, between the hours of ten and eleven, while quietly in our beds, with a watch necessary for the attendance of our sick and the security of our ships, we were assaulted by a number of armed men, who, without the smallest offence on our parts, forcibly entered three of our ships, unattended by any commissioned officer, when your petitioners were insulted in words too indelicate for us to repeat, or for you to hear; at the same time, drawing their swords, they dragged three of us from our beds, and forced us into their boat, not suffering two of the number to put on any wearing apparel, in which manner they conducted us through the harbour, and afterwards conveyed us on board his most Christian Majesty's frigate Du Roy la Tourtereau, under your command, where not being permitted to know our accusation, or to have access to the commanding officer, we were ordered to be lodged with the common sailors. We must here beg leave to observe, that all the French ships are permitted to have lights on board, to attend their sick; while the unfortunate Americans are refused that favour, even to succour their dying men, and such succour was actually necessary on the night above mentioned.
We therefore must humbly entreat you, Sir, to move an enquiry in our behalf.—Firmly attached to his most Christian Majesty, the great and good Ally of the United States, and happy in an alliance with a brave and generous nation, we earnestly entreat protection, peace and safety; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
Point Petre Sept. 18, 1786.
SIR,
The substance of the above was intended for the Commander in Chief, but respect for your character, (which we have been told is a very honorable one) has altered our determination.—We have waited in expectation that some apology would have been made us, for the bad conduct of your marines. —We are sorry to add, we have had no redress. —As we arrived in this government the most affectionate friends, we wish not to leave it as determined enemies; and we flatter ourselves that your answer, delivered to our interpreter, will do justice to the high opinion we have of your integrity, and be productive of returning harmony between the subjects of the two nations,
October 16, 1786.
MR. CARTER,
The little respect that is paid to the American flag, and the repeated insults which subjects of the United States meet with in foreign ports, must convince the good people of this continent, that it is absolutely necessary we should invest Congress with a power to regulate our commerce, and to support our dignity, as free and independent States—without which, we must very soon become a reproach and by-word among the nations.
The following petition, which was drawn up and signed by eighteen of the most respectable captains from this and the neighbouring States, must in some degree convince the public of the truth of the above observation. As the strictest justice is intended to our allies, should an answer be given to the petition, a copy will be forwarded to the writer of this, by the first vessel from Guadaloupe, and shall be communicated to the public through the channel of your useful Gazette, by your constant reader,
A. Z.
The humble petition of all the American Commanders in the harbour of Point-a-Petre, Guadaloupe, to Monsieur DE ST. JEAN, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Major of the Marine, and Commander of his most Christian Majesty's frigate Du Roy la Tourtereau, now on the above station;
Sheweth,
THAT your petitioners, relying on the faith of treaties subsisting between his most Christian Majesty and the United States of North America, have entrusted their persons and properties in the dominions of "the Protector of the Rights of Mankind," and have in every respect submitted in the most implicit manner to all laws and ordinances made known to us, demeaning ourselves in a quiet and peaceable manner, giving no offence to any person or persons whatever.
With infinite distress we therefore are under the disagreeable necessity of making known to you, that on Saturday evening, the sixteenth of September last, between the hours of ten and eleven, while quietly in our beds, with a watch necessary for the attendance of our sick and the security of our ships, we were assaulted by a number of armed men, who, without the smallest offence on our parts, forcibly entered three of our ships, unattended by any commissioned officer, when your petitioners were insulted in words too indelicate for us to repeat, or for you to hear; at the same time, drawing their swords, they dragged three of us from our beds, and forced us into their boat, not suffering two of the number to put on any wearing apparel, in which manner they conducted us through the harbour, and afterwards conveyed us on board his most Christian Majesty's frigate Du Roy la Tourtereau, under your command, where not being permitted to know our accusation, or to have access to the commanding officer, we were ordered to be lodged with the common sailors. We must here beg leave to observe, that all the French ships are permitted to have lights on board, to attend their sick; while the unfortunate Americans are refused that favour, even to succour their dying men, and such succour was actually necessary on the night above mentioned.
We therefore must humbly entreat you, Sir, to move an enquiry in our behalf.—Firmly attached to his most Christian Majesty, the great and good Ally of the United States, and happy in an alliance with a brave and generous nation, we earnestly entreat protection, peace and safety; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
Point Petre Sept. 18, 1786.
SIR,
The substance of the above was intended for the Commander in Chief, but respect for your character, (which we have been told is a very honorable one) has altered our determination.—We have waited in expectation that some apology would have been made us, for the bad conduct of your marines. —We are sorry to add, we have had no redress. —As we arrived in this government the most affectionate friends, we wish not to leave it as determined enemies; and we flatter ourselves that your answer, delivered to our interpreter, will do justice to the high opinion we have of your integrity, and be productive of returning harmony between the subjects of the two nations,
October 16, 1786.
What sub-type of article is it?
Diplomatic
Trade Or Commerce
What keywords are associated?
American Captains Petition
Guadaloupe Incident
French Marines Assault
Du Roy La Tourtereau
Us French Tensions
What entities or persons were involved?
Monsieur De St. Jean
Where did it happen?
Point A Petre, Guadaloupe
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Point A Petre, Guadaloupe
Event Date
September 16, 1786
Key Persons
Monsieur De St. Jean
Outcome
no redress or apology provided; captains detained briefly without charges and housed with common sailors.
Event Details
On September 16, 1786, armed French marines boarded three American ships in Point-a-Petre harbor without provocation, insulted and dragged three captains from their beds to the frigate Du Roy la Tourtereau, denying them access to officers or knowledge of accusations. American captains petitioned the commander for inquiry and protection, citing treaties and alliance, but received no response by October 16, 1786.